Quick Reminder of Prayer Circles
At 7:30PM, TONIGHT, we again meet for prayer circles hosted on ZOOM. This is a video conferencing platform, however, for those who are unable to video conference, you may also call in. These three prayer circles will be hosted by our elders; Greg, Yvette, and Lee. We will be divided up by the first letter of your last name. Please see the instructions below, and join others for this time of prayer and praise online!
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This is a special notice of a change in our church opening status.
Due to the Conference request for all churches to close effective immediately, we will not be having services on location at Lewisville until further notice. This decision was not made lightly, or without regard to our desire to meet together. The cases in Texas are increasing, and the concerns exist that churches could be a contribute to the increase in cases, and therefore we have agreed to follow the Texas Conference request, and close up until we get the all-clear signal.
So what will we be doing in the meantime?
First, we will have special connect groups on lines beginning this Sabbath, with start times of 10:30A, lasting until 11:45A. There will be select leaders for these groups, and we hope to keep them capped at 12 people max, so there is talk time available to all who join in. These links will be sent out on Friday evening for you to join the group of your choice. We strongly encourage you to do this, to keep our relationships growing and going through all of the events transpiring. We should have done this sooner, and I, as your pastors, will take the responsibility for it not happening. I failed you, and I apologize. I know we need these relationships and connect groups, and perhaps the mid-week Zoom was not enough.
What happens after 11:45A?
Great question! We will be sharing the link for the 12:00P Mosaic Service comIng from Arlington for the next several weeks, until we are up and running with our own streaming platform from this church. We are exploring a partnership in ministry with Arlington church currently, and we feel they have invested in the resources of a great worship experience online, and we should take advantage of it while we get ours purchased and installed in the very near future.
The link for this will be coming on Friday evening also, and shared again on Sabbath morning through email, text, and via the Zoom leaders of connect groups.
What does the present and future look like for LSDA through this CV19 crisis?
One thing I have learned as I speak to members, is a reality that relationships are breaking apart, and that saddens me. The lack of coming together on a Saturday morning for study and worship by many is taking its toll. We need to rectify this immediately and adjust our sails to the storm winds blowing. Several have expressed they would just as soon stay home in the future and watch online than come to the church. Ouch. We are better when we are together, but apparently we haven’t shown how important that is in the past, but must do so now, and in the future.
The mid-week Zoom meetings, and Zoom Connect Groups we implement this week, will help us build these relationships from a central source, the church. But this doesn’t minimize how important it is for members to connect with each other, and take time to also call, text, email, write our shut-ins and others who feel abandoned and neglected through all of this. Relationships matter, and we must, must, must make it our number one priority through all happening in our lives and community,
We are working on the streaming platform for our church, as you can see below. We also realize we need to up our game on the worship service presentation, to make it worth tuning in to. This is happening, and growth is steady in this area.
I encourage you to be connected with others through various avenues, as well as through the church-sponsored online events Wednesday evenings and Sabbath. If you feel you are disconnected, please reach out to me, let me know, and I will happily find ways to keep this from happening further.
Dean
817-658-5131
deanwaterman@mac.com
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We are working on the streaming platform, but have chosen to invest in the right equipment in place, rather than spend money on temporary equipment, and install, when the right equipment will make all the difference. If you would like to give specifically to this fund, you may do so online. We our seeking to raise $15,000 total to complete everything. You may go to our Adventist Giving page, and give to the line of "Streaming Project", which will be set up. You may also continue to give your offerings and tithe online at the same link provided below:
Our hope is to have the streaming up and running by First Sabbath of July. We sincerely apologize for the delay, as I know many of you would prefer to be with us in person, but caution and wisdom have determined you should remind home. I know you want to worship with your church family, and it is a present urgency to get this done in order for you to do so. Trust me, it will be worth it when completed!
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